Few Games Age as Gracefully as the 8-Year-Old Breath of the Wild

Eight years have flown by since we first laid our hands on the Nintendo Switch, marking the same anniversary for the legendary game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. These two are like a perfect match, each enhancing the other’s appeal. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just starting, this duo adapts seamlessly to your play style. You might choose to dive into your adventure on the move or settle down in front of your TV screen. But here’s the thing – while the Switch is unquestionably versatile, Breath of the Wild has a knack for hiding its age quite impressively.

The secret sauce behind Breath of the Wild’s timelessness is its openness and the freedom it offers. Think of it this way: from the get-go, you can tackle the final boss if you’re feeling bold. The game morphs into an emergent playground, giving you the reins to shape your adventure. It’s a family-friendly journey that can dive into unexpected levels of depth, and every encounter can be as spontaneous or strategic as you desire. The adaptive soundtrack balances tranquility and tension perfectly with the unfolding scenario. Nintendo skillfully packed a multitude of experiences into the game, maintaining a clean and distraction-free interface – a rarity in open-world titles.

Even with the spotlight now shining on its feature-packed sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, let’s not forget what truly resonates with players: Breath of the Wild remains the superior experience. Think of Tears of the Kingdom as an extensive workshop that sprang from Breath of the Wild’s original concepts, refining and expanding them. New features like weapon fusion and ascending through structures enhance the gameplay, and it’s commendable how the aging Switch manages to run it all so smoothly. But this isn’t a tale of rivalry; it’s a celebration of both.

Now, speaking of celebrations, this birthday marks the last one for the Switch before its successor, the anticipated Switch 2, arrives in 2025. From whispers and what we’ve gathered, the Switch 2 promises significant advancements, akin to what Tears of the Kingdom did for Breath of the Wild. It’s set to evolve from the solid groundwork laid over the last eight years, with a big thanks owed to the groundbreaking journey that started with the beloved Breath of the Wild.